So, that’s what Spring is like when love is gone?

The flowers are in bloom but have no fragrance, none.

The wind doesn’t bring the air that smells of love

So mused the Bluebird on a branch above.

The heart keeps sinking deeper yet in grief,

As if no other love on Earth exists.

It may arrive one day, but mortal fear

Is ever present and is always near

Of waning force that lifts the fragile wing

And makes all living creatures want to sing.

Oh, blooms of Spring! Just once, pray, tell

That love with you in heart does swell,

The one that causes heads to swim

And disappears by a whim amidst the gloom of Fall.

Oh, had I known this, I would

Perhaps, steer clear of foul mood

And spare myself a lot of grief,

Had not the love like common thief

Stole beauty of the flowers bloom,

Kidnapped my soul and left for doom.

It vanished just before the cold

Without a trace like fake Fall’s gold.

So, if I’m meant to outlive Fall

Long past the yellow leaves’ sad ball,

The wind will reap its harvest full

Without mercy, strong as bull.

It rules the valleys and the trees

Amongst the season that we call

The Fall, which known not to all.

I’ll plead with wind, take me along

And show the path where love had walked,

The one that dwelled inside my soul,

The one that helped the Sun to burn,

The one that in the dark of night

My path to happiness would light!

On top of lungs I want to scream,

My love, come back, fulfill the dream,

And touch me with your mighty wing,

And in my soul let in the Spring.

My soul in grief immersed has been

But love for you still lives within.

By grace of God I was endowed

With colors of the sky above,

The royal blue of gods and kings

Applied abundant on my wings.

Those wings were eager to embrace

Entire forest, when its face, it’s eyes

Reflected like a crystal ball

The loving glance of my own soul.

My soul was filled with bliss to brim,

And so much joy that it would scream

And yearned to leave its flesh abode

To soar in heaven next to God.

I thought naively this delight

Will make my life forever bright,

But Spring was yet to lose its gown

When fluttered wings and… dreams were gone.

In our woods they call me shrewd,

But for the life of me I couldn’t

Embrace the reason for the love

To find me in this shady grove

When it intended in no way

In my vicinity to stay?

My memory will always keep

The Spring of love that’s hidden deep.

And wings that were the gift of God,

That splendor brought to my abode.

Those wings that kept the pain away

Forever in my heart will stay.

Their warmth and magic I will cherish

To my last day, until I perish.

I wish I knew that warm Spring night

When my heart wept with much delight,

Was, truly, last night of my love,

I swear to the skies above

I wouldn’t unlock my arms’ embrace

And kiss my lover’s charming face

Until the dawn would finally break

And World would fully come awake,

So that my heart remembered love

As gift from God that dwells above.

Spring flowers, spread your blossoms wide,

Let your sweet fragrance deep inside

My heart and let it now recall

The scent of love well known to all!

By Liana Margiva

Translated from Russian by Anatol Kardiukov